Class 10 English Unit 4: Reading II: Leave this Chanting and Singing

 

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Reading II: Leave this Chanting and Singing

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Main Summary of the Poem

"Leave This Chanting and Singing" by Rabindranath Tagore is a poem that urges people to move beyond ritualistic worship and find God in everyday actions and human connections. Tagore criticizes the practices of chanting, singing, and meditation as insufficient for truly experiencing the divine. Instead, he encourages seeking God among the toiling masses, in the fields, and the simple acts of love and service. The poem emphasizes that God is present in the hard work and struggles of ordinary people, suggesting that true spirituality is found in compassion, humility, and active engagement with the world.

Stanza wise Explanation

Stanza 1

Tagore begins by addressing the practitioners of ritualistic worship, urging them to leave their chanting, singing, and meditation. He suggests that these practices are not the way to truly find God. Instead, he encourages seeking the divine outside the confines of temples and sacred texts.

Stanza 2

The poet emphasizes that God is not confined to places of worship. He asks the worshipers to look beyond their rituals and find God during life's struggles and hard work. Tagore points out that God is present among the toiling workers in the fields and factories.

Stanza 3

Tagore continues to stress that the divine is found in the humble, everyday actions of ordinary people. He suggests that true spirituality lies in participating in the world's work and serving humanity. The poet encourages worshipers to join in the labor and feel the divine presence through their efforts and sacrifices.

Stanza 4

In the final stanza, Tagore criticizes the false sense of superiority and detachment that often accompanies ritualistic worship. He urges the practitioners to embrace humility and simplicity and to find God in their hearts and their interactions with others. The poem concludes with a call to experience the divine through love, compassion, and active engagement in the world.

Vocabulary

a.      Chanting - /ˈʧɑːntɪŋ/ - CHANT-ing - Verb (present participle) - Singing or intoning repetitively.

b.     Beads - /biːdz/ - BEADS - Noun (plural) - Small, round objects often threaded on a string for jewelry or prayer.

c.      Worship - /ˈwɜːʃɪp/ - WOR-ship - Noun/Verb - The act of showing reverence and adoration for a deity.

d.     Thine - /ðaɪn/ - THINE - Pronoun - Archaic form of 'yours' (possessive).

e.      Thy - /ðaɪ/ - THY - Pronoun - Archaic form of 'your' (possessive).

f.       Thee - /ðiː/ - THEE - Pronoun - Archaic form of 'you' (objective case).

g.     Tiller - /ˈtɪlə/ - TILL-er - Noun - A person who cultivates land, or a lever used for steering a boat.

h.     Shower - /ˈʃaʊə/ - SHOW-er - Noun/Verb - A brief fall of rain, or the act of bathing under a spray of water.

i.       Put off - /pʊt ɒf/ - PUT OFF - Phrasal Verb - To postpone or delay.

j.       Holy mantle - /ˈhəʊli ˈmæntl/ - HO-ly MAN-tle - Noun phrase - A figurative term for sacred or religious authority.

k.     Deliverance - /dɪˈlɪvərəns/ - de-LIV-er-ance - Noun - The act of being rescued or set free.

l.       Bonds - /bɒndz/ - BONDS - Noun (plural) - Physical chains or figurative ties.

m.   Meditation - /ˌmedɪˈteɪʃən/ - med-i-TA-tion - Noun - The practice of focused thought or contemplation.

n.     Incense - /ˈɪnsɛns/ - IN-cense - Noun - Substance burned for its fragrant smell, often in religious ceremonies.

o.     Tattered - /ˈtætəd/ - TAT-tered - Adjective - Old and torn; in poor condition.

p.     Stained - /steɪnd/ - STAINED - Adjective - Marked or discolored.

q.     Toil - /tɔɪl/ - TOIL - Verb/Noun - Hard, continuous work.

r.       Brow - /braʊ/ - BROW - Noun - Forehead.

A.   Find the words from the poem which have the following meanings.

a.            a small piece of glass or stone threaded with others to make a necklace – beads

b.           to prepare and use the land for growing crops -  tilling

c.            a piece of clothing- mantle

d.           a layer of something that covers a surface - garment

e.            the state of being rescued from danger, evil, or pain  - deliverance

f.             a substance that produces a pleasant smell when you burn it - incense

g.           covered with marks - stained

h.           hard unpleasant work that makes you very tired- toil

B.    Find the modern equivalents of the following archaic words used in the poem.

a.      dost - do          b. thou - you           c. thine - your           d. thy - your

C.    Answer the following questions.

a.      Who is the poem addressed to?

The poem is addressed to the reader or anyone who is engaged in religious worship or meditation.

b.     What does the speaker advise people?

The speaker advises people to leave aside traditional practices of religious worship and to engage with the world more fully, to find a true connection with the divine.

c.      Where do people try to find the god?

People try to find God in places like temples or through traditional practices of worship such as chanting, singing, and telling of beads.

d.      Where, according to the speaker, does the god reside?

According to the speaker, God resides with the people who are working hard in the fields, breaking stones, and getting their hands dirty.

e.      How can people have a glimpse of the god?

People can have a glimpse of God by engaging in hard work and getting their hands dirty, rather than through traditional practices of worship and meditation.

f.       Why can't the god rescue people?

The speaker suggests that God has taken upon himself the bonds of creation and is bound with all of us forever. Therefore, God cannot simply rescue people from their struggles, instead, people must find their deliverance by engaging with the world and finding meaning and purpose in everyday life.

g.     What does the speaker ask people to do in the last stanza?

In the last stanza, the speaker asks people to come out of their meditative state and to engage with the world more fully. The speaker suggests that people should leave aside traditional practices of worship, be willing to get their clothes tattered and stained, and stand by God in the toil and sweat of their work.

D.   Do you believe in the existence of god? What do you do to please him? Share your opinion.

The existence of God is a topic that many people debate and discuss. Some believe in a divine being who created and governs the universe, while others do not believe in God at all. I do believe in God to some extent. Many people find comfort and meaning in their belief in God, and they engage in practices like prayer, meditation, attending religious services, performing charity, or following religious rules. Unlike these people, I do not meditate or use flowers and incense to please God. Instead, I try to find God in hard work and helping others. I serve those in need and work with people of all backgrounds to honor God.

I believe that actions speak louder than words, and by helping others, I am living out my faith. Acts of kindness and service bring me closer to God and give my life purpose. It's important to me to treat everyone with respect and dignity, regardless of their social status or background. By doing so, I feel I am fulfilling a higher calling. My faith is deeply personal and rooted in the belief that we are all connected. Through my work and interactions, I strive to make a positive impact in the world. This is how I express my devotion and belief in God.

 

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